Caladenia hopperiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caladenia hopperiana |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
hopperiana
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Caladenia hopperiana is a special type of orchid. It is only found in the south-west part of Western Australia. This orchid has a single leaf and grows up to four creamy-yellow flowers. These flowers often have faint red marks on them.
What Does It Look Like?
Caladenia hopperiana is a plant that grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small storage root. It can sometimes grow in groups. The plant has one straight, pale green leaf. This leaf is about 8 to 16 centimeters (3 to 6 inches) long and 7 to 11 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. It often has reddish-purple spots near its base.
The orchid produces up to four creamy-yellow flowers. Each flower is about 4 to 5 centimeters (1.6 to 2 inches) wide. They grow on a stem that is about 14 to 18 centimeters (5.5 to 7 inches) tall. The flowers have faint red markings.
The parts of the flower, called sepals and petals, are thin and pointed. They are wide at the bottom and then become very narrow and thread-like. The top sepal stands up but bends forward. It is about 2.5 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.6 inches) long. The side sepals spread out at first, then hang down. They are about 3 to 4.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.8 inches) long. The petals also hang down and are about 2.5 to 3 centimeters (1 to 1.2 inches) long.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is the orchid's special lip. It is about 1.2 to 1.7 centimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long and 0.8 to 1 centimeter (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The labellum is white with its tip curled under. Its sides have short, blunt teeth that point forward. These teeth can be white to dark brown. In the middle of the labellum, there are four to six rows of shiny red bumps. These bumps look like tiny hockey sticks and are about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) long. This orchid blooms during September and October.
How It Got Its Name
Caladenia hopperiana was first officially described in 2001. Two botanists, Andrew Brown and Garry Brockman, wrote about it. They found a sample of the plant near a place called Quindanning. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its name, hopperiana, was chosen to honor a famous Western Australian botanist named Stephen Hopper. Botanists are scientists who study plants.
Where It Lives
This special orchid is only found in the Quindanning area. This region is part of the Jarrah Forest in Western Australia. It likes to grow in woodlands, which are like forests, especially near creeks and swamps.
Protecting This Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Caladenia hopperiana as "Threatened Flora". This means it is a very rare plant and needs special protection to make sure it doesn't disappear.
